The 12 Days Of Cinema: Gremlins (1984)

4 Silver Bells

"Gremlins" is not your typical holiday film.  However, (for the most part) if you've come to this series of posts expecting typical holiday films, you've been coming to the wrong place.

What is it about this particular film that earns it a place in my holiday favorites list?  Unlike slasher films like Bob Clark's excellent "Black Christmas" or the "Silent Night, Deadly Night" series, this is an accessible holiday horror film.  Yes, that's right...I called "Gremlins" a horror film.

Soiled Restroom Cinema: Easy A

Two Flusher = Mexican Revolt

It’s a good thing that writer/director John Hughes is no longer with us, because if he were he’d probably be suing for copyright infringement by now.

The 12 Days Of Cinema: Santa Claus, The Movie (1985)

(The Heavy Metal Warrior, once again rises from the underground lair to spread Christmas cheer ...and fire a huge serving of figgy pudding at a celebrated character actor.)

4 Silver Bells (First 40 and last 10 minutes of the film)
1 Silver Bell (Anything involving John Lithgow)

One of my favorite Christmas memories of my oldest daughter is taking her to see "Santa Claus, The Movie" when she was about two and half years old.

The 12 Days Of Cinema: A Christmas Story (1983)

(Guest blogger and honorary Film Warrior Rachel Brethauer joins us for the holidays with a look at one of the all time classics of Christmas films.  You can see more of Rachel's work on her blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter under the name @rachem)

4 Silver Bells

Maybe it seems a little obvious to choose a movie they play literally for the entirety of Christmas, but it still needs to be said: “A Christmas Story” is the greatest holiday movie of all time. Now, you might be thinking that’s some big talk. But a bit of consideration will make you realize just how many things the movie does right, and worthy of this mantle.

The 12 Days Of Cinema: Scrooge (1970)

(Guest writer Michael Johnathan Lee, better known as @GoldenAgeofGeek on Twitter and entertainment blogger for The Wrap returns with his holiday take on a musical version of "A Christmas Carol.")

4 Silver Bells

My very first exposure to the Charles Dickens classic, “A Christmas Carol” was seeing the 1970 musical version “Scrooge” starring Albert Finney. For years I believed that was the best version of the story.

The 12 Days Of Cinema: It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

18 Silver Bells (Us FWs do make exceptions on our ratings at times.  Merry Christmas! - Ace)

“It's A Wonderful Life” is my all time favorite movie. That's not to say that I think it's the best movie ever made, though I used to argue that point quite vehemently. I have, in the past twenty-five years or so, adjusted many of my thoughts on film viewing, and the difference between the film that makes me excited to watch it and the highest quality in production is one of those adjustments. 

The 12 Days Of Cinema: Die Hard (1988)

4 Silver Bells

Christmas is not always about good cheer, presents, or shooting your eye out.  Sometimes a holiday backdrop can be used to stage an elaborate robbery in a high rise office building by a team of experienced antagonists willing to kill a large group of hostages to ensure their success. 

DVD Klaxxon: Step Up 3

3 = Combat Readiness Medal

Somehow I managed to have seen all three “Step Up” films on my endless quest.  I know I’m not in the age demographic, nor can I dance to save my life.  I should have stopped after choking on the plot of the first film, but, truth be told, the lovely Briana Evigan lured me back for the sequel.

The 12 Days Of Cinema: Love Actually (2003)

4 Silver Bells

Best known as the "Crash" of romantic comedies, writer-director Richard Curtis' "Love Actually" has become the 'must view' film in the Centauri household at this time of year.

Largely ignored upon initial release, this Christmas themed film has slowly built its acclaim and a large, rabid fan base among those who have discovered it.  Why?  What makes this film stand out in a overpopulated genre of Christmas themed rom-coms in a decade that included the likes of "Four Christmases," "This Christmas," "The Holiday" and "The Family Man"?

Frontal Assault Friday 12/22: Little Gritty Traveling Fockers

I'm not sure what's worse, that the overhyped "Tron: Legacy" only managed to pull in a sub par $43 million on its opening weekend despite the fact that it had nearly three years of marketing under its belt, or that the furry CGI dildo known as "Yogi Bear" actually made $16 million at the box office.

Trailer Armory: Hanna's Lonely Place To Die

Having just addressed a few train wreck movie trailers in yesterday’s Endless Quest post (HERE), it’s nice to turn it around in the Trailer Armory today and offer up two forthcoming quest items that look truly exciting.

The 12 Days Of Cinema: Bad Santa (2003)

3 Silver Bells

There are very few Christmas films that don’t actually promote holiday cheer and goodwill towards men in some form, yet are still considered yuletide classics in their own right.  “Silent Night, Deadly Night” has garnered a cult status over the years due to its portrayal of a homicidal killer clad as Santa Claus, not to mention a fair amount of public outcry when the film was released.

The Endless Quest: Underwhelmers And Train Wrecks

It happens every year on our cinematic path.  We encounter quest items that either fail miserably to live up to expectations and Hollywood’s overhyped marketing department, or that look to be dead on arrival from their lackluster previews.  

The 12 Days Of Cinema: Elf (2003)

(Guest blogger and honorary Film Warrior Jamie Hahn kicks off our holiday festivities with a look at this Christmas comedy starring Will Ferrell.  You can read more of this talented writer's work on her own blog HERE, and follow her on Twitter under @thisjamie.)

3 Silver Bells

If you told me in 2003 that my favorite Christmas movie would be about a guy who thinks he’s an elf, I’d have told you to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. If you informed me that said movie would be directed by John Favreau (of "Swingers" fame) and would feature Will Ferrell sporting yellow tights and a green, fur-lined tunic for most of the movie, I would have jumped off the Brooklyn Bridge myself. 

TRON Legacy: A Confounding Experience

??? = Totally Confounded

As a nine year old, old school game geek in 1982 (We're talking Magnavox Odyssey 2 old school, here.) I was the target audience for "TRON" upon its original theatrical release.  I remember marveling at the idea that someone could be kidnapped into a computer to play games for life and death.

How Do You Know: Oh I Know! I Know!

1 = Summary Court Martial

How do you know this is a terrible film from once talented writer/director James L. Brooks?  Because every character in this quest item you would hate to be seated next to on an airplane.

Blake Edwards: Forever In Pink

Legendary writer/director Blake Edwards passed away on the Wednesday at the age of 88 in Santa Monica, CA from complications with pneumonia (read HERE), and what he leaves behind is a legacy of quest items that will be viewed by filmgoers for generations to come.

Frontal Assault Friday 12/17: How Do You Know Yogi Tron?

Hopefully last weekend's paltry box office take of $25 million for the latest "Narnia" film will be the final nail in this tepid franchise.  I think we've all had enough of those annoying British kids chatting it up with resident fur covered deity Aslan.  

Trailer Armory: Pirates Of The Caribbean: On Stranger Tides

You can't keep a good pirate down, especially if that pirate happens to be Captain Jack Sparrow.

Trailer Armory: Thor

I sometimes hate it when I'm right.  Back in July I gave my assessment of the Comic Con footage showcasing Marvel's upcoming "Thor," citing the material as lackluster.

Black Swan: It's "Inception" Good

4 = Medal of Honor

Darren Aronofsky’s “Black Swan” is so good that it’s difficult to put into words just how good it really is. In fact, I wish our rating system had a 5 or higher.

The Fighter: Almost A Knock Out

3 = Combat Readiness Medal

The buzz on the web regarding David O. Russell’s “The Fighter” pretty consistently mentioned the same three names over and over again: Christian Bale, Melissa Leo, and Amy Adams. After catching a sneak peek of the film the other night, I can definitely see why these actors are being singled out for their performances.

Frontal Assault Friday: A Tourist, A Fighter, And A Dawn Treader

Never underestimate the power of a woman, especially one with very long hair.  Disney's "Tangled" managed to unseat the almighty Harry Potter to take the top spot at the box office last weekend, which is like saying a colonoscopy is slightly more entertaining than a prison rape.

Trailer Armory: Transformers: Dark Of The Moon

It's comes as no real surprise that I have very little love for Michael Bay and his overblown "Transformers" franchise (read HERE), but I'd be remiss as a Film Warrior if I didn't acknowledge the worldwide success of these films and his ability to make shitloads of money.

The Cinematic Trenches: You Are Not Watching Enough Movies

In Lawrence Kasdan’s film “Grand Canyon,” Steve Martin comments to one of the characters: “That’s part of your problem: you haven’t seen enough movies.  All of life’s riddles are answered in the movies.”  

The Wizarding World Of Harry Potter: A Fan's Perspective

On my recent vacation, I headed back home for a long overdue family Thanksgiving.  Since home, for me, happens to be the 'land of a thousand theme parks'...naturally, I would be expected to visit one or two. 

Soiled Restroom Cinema: Manson, My Name Is Evil (2009)

Four Flusher = There She Blows!

The last thing we need is a film to make hippie cult leader Charles Manson seem even more crazy than he already is, but the Soiled Restroom can be unforgiving place, even during the holiday season, dumping out a top quality Redbox turd entitled, “Manson, My Name is Evil.”

Frontal Assault Friday 12/3: Phillip Morris And A Black Swan Warrior

Little Harry Potter waved his magic wand once again and came up with box office gold over the holiday weekend, besting no less than four major releases, including Disney's "Tangled," which had to settle for second place.  Harry seems to be better playing with his 'wand' than he is at getting laid.